So I'm just supposed to be happy that I'm on such a a tight budget that I can't afford a tax hit?

 

I'm just supposed to click my heels together and feel good about myself because my sacrifices will help "the greater good" while I pack up my possessions and give up my house?

 

Nationwide it's considered a crisis because people got into stupid mortgages that they couldn't afford with stupid ARMs that are noew being foreclosed on. All three presidential candidates seem to favor some sort of government bailout for these shortsighted people. Well what about those of us that did it the right way? We saved money to make a down payment. We took a fixed rate mortgage at a couple of points higher because we knew that ARMs would eventually go up and become a problem. I've never been late on a mortgage payment much less missed one. When taxes go up (both state and federal) along with everything else will I then become one of the people that the government wants to bail out or will they just tell me that I have to sell my house and rent again because I can afford that while at the same time expecting me to help pay for the stupid people.

 

 

No, don't be happy at all, but how badly were you going to be effected by a 25 cent increase on a pack of Cigs? What kind of impact would taxing charter airline and limousine services have on you. The revenue plan passed by the house was not a tax on people with tight budgets, it was a tax on cigarettes (a luxury, not a necessity) and luxury services. Not sure how that effects you, but if it does your budget is not as tight as you suggest it might be.

 

It is possible to raise taxes and not have them effect the working middle class. It is just a matter of having the courage to do so.

No, don't be happy at all, but how badly were you going to be effected by a 25 cent increase on a pack of Cigs? What kind of impact would taxing charter airline and limousine services have on you. The revenue plan passed by the house was not a tax on people with tight budgets, it was a tax on cigarettes (a luxury, not a necessity) and luxury services. Not sure how that effects you, but if it does your budget is not as tight as you suggest it might be.

 

It is possible to raise taxes and not have them effect the working middle class. It is just a matter of having the courage to do so.

 

The tobacco tax would not have affected me one bit but I do not trust the state government to stop there. I am also alarmed by the fact that the Governor seems to be so obtuse as to not realize that if he does call a special session it will cost lots of money (that we don't have according to him) while accomplishing nothing. If he isn't smart enough to see that Williams will block any tax increase he isn't smart enough to be governor. That combined with presidential candidates that have already pledged to raise federal taxes scares me. I'm that wonderful little group of single with no children that always seem to get hit with tax increases regardless of what the politicians promise.

Republicans would be fools to vote for Beshear's tax increases. Let Beshear recommend spending cuts and let the people who put this liar into office deal with the fallout. Kentucky has a bloated state government and if you feed it more money every year, spending will never be restrained.

 

If the Casino initiative passes, it will only delay the day that state politicians will once again declare a crisis, take education hostage, and demand even more "revenue."

Republicans would be fools to vote for Beshear's tax increases. Let Beshear recommend spending cuts and let the people who put this liar into office deal with the fallout. Kentucky has a bloated state government and if you feed it more money every year, spending will never be restrained.

 

If the Casino initiative passes, it will only delay the day that state politicians will once again declare a crisis, take education hostage, and demand even more "revenue."

 

You are so right - I cannot believe that we actually need those 175 healthcare workers in Glasgow who work in a condemned building taking care of those sick people there. PITIFUL. Fire them all, besides it is peoples own fault that they get sick.

 

Can you tell me specifically where the state government is bloated? Or is it just easy to attack without having any facts. Do we have too many teachers, or police officers or firefighters or social workers or auditors? Which ones should we get rid of first.

You are so right - I cannot believe that we actually need those 175 healthcare workers in Glasgow who work in a condemned building taking care of those sick people there. PITIFUL. Fire them all, besides it is peoples own fault that they get sick.

 

Can you tell me specifically where the state government is bloated? Or is it just easy to attack without having any facts. Do we have too many teachers, or police officers or firefighters or social workers or auditors? Which ones should we get rid of first.

I would put the new governor at the top of my list.:lol:

 

How has the state managed for so long without casinos? Have Kentucky's taxes ever been higher than they are today? Was the lottery not supposed to be the answer to all of the state's educational funding problems? How many times do Kentucky's citizens need to go through this familiar tax and spend cycle before they catch on?

I would put the new governor at the top of my list.:lol:

 

How has the state managed for so long without casinos? Have Kentucky's taxes ever been higher than they are today? Was the lottery not supposed to be the answer to all of the state's educational funding problems? How many times do Kentucky's citizens need to go through this familiar tax and spend cycle before they catch on?

 

Read a stat somewhere the other day on the casinos. When being touted in the 80's, 33 or 35% of the proceeds was supposed to go to the government. The tops have been 27%.

 

Another example of what government touts as the cure all does not come close to being the cure all.

 

Don't buy the Brooklyn Bridge (casino gambling) that this governor is selling.

Read a stat somewhere the other day on the casinos. When being touted in the 80's, 33 or 35% of the proceeds was supposed to go to the government. The tops have been 27%.

 

Another example of what government touts as the cure all does not come close to being the cure all.

 

Don't buy the Brooklyn Bridge (casino gambling) that this governor is selling.

 

Then LBBC come up with another way to raise revenue. What have you got??

I would put the new governor at the top of my list.:lol:

 

How has the state managed for so long without casinos? Have Kentucky's taxes ever been higher than they are today? Was the lottery not supposed to be the answer to all of the state's educational funding problems? How many times do Kentucky's citizens need to go through this familiar tax and spend cycle before they catch on?

 

 

No real answer to the question, just an attack on Beshear and Casinos.

 

What are your suggestions???

 

FWIW - Imagine our education system today without the Lottery . . . I cannot.

 

Actually, Kentucky's taxes have been higher than they are today.

 

Here is the THING - however. The state HAS NOT managed. We are continually falling behind and we are borrowing/stealing from Peter (Education) to pay Paul (water and sewer projects). Eventually there is going to be no money for either.

 

We have to make an investment and we have to get that money from somewhere. The investment has to be in an educated work force so that we can attract jobs to our commonwealth. As it stands there is still a brain drain in this state - from Rural Communities to Urban and from our state to surrounding. If we continue to cut, the brain drain increases and our chances of bringing higher paying jobs to the state decreases and our money decreases.

 

I am not a casino advocate but I am a revenue advocate and if we are not going to get it with casinos what are your ideas, you don't want to tax luxury services, what do you want to do.

 

The lottery was not a panacea and casinos will not be either, but the lottery certainly helped and casinos would relieve some burden as well. Now we are left with nothing.

 

By the way 26% is a whale of a lot better than 0% even if it is not 33%. How many millions of dollars is 26% worth?

No real answer to the question, just an attack on Beshear and Casinos.

 

What are your suggestions???

 

FWIW - Imagine our education system today without the Lottery . . . I cannot.

 

Actually, Kentucky's taxes have been higher than they are today.

 

Here is the THING - however. The state HAS NOT managed. We are continually falling behind and we are borrowing/stealing from Peter (Education) to pay Paul (water and sewer projects). Eventually there is going to be no money for either.

 

We have to make an investment and we have to get that money from somewhere. The investment has to be in an educated work force so that we can attract jobs to our commonwealth. As it stands there is still a brain drain in this state - from Rural Communities to Urban and from our state to surrounding. If we continue to cut, the brain drain increases and our chances of bringing higher paying jobs to the state decreases and our money decreases.

 

I am not a casino advocate but I am a revenue advocate and if we are not going to get it with casinos what are your ideas, you don't want to tax luxury services, what do you want to do.

 

The lottery was not a panacea and casinos will not be either, but the lottery certainly helped and casinos would relieve some burden as well. Now we are left with nothing.

 

By the way 26% is a whale of a lot better than 0% even if it is not 33%. How many millions of dollars is 26% worth?

I don't need to provide any answers, Beshear does. It amazes me to read posts by so many people who believe that the answer to all societal problems is higher taxes.

 

The best way to generate adequate tax revenue for necessary government services is to create a favorable business climate that results in prosperous taxpayers. I personally have nothing against casino gambling, but Governor Beshear should be talking about coupling casino gambling with tax cuts.

Then LBBC come up with another way to raise revenue. What have you got??

 

Bake sale.

 

You know I vote for and they get paid a good number of George Washingtons to come up with creative solutions to solve major problems. Let them earn their own salary.

 

But preying on the weak in society shouldn't be the answer.

We have to make an investment and we have to get that money from somewhere. The investment has to be in an educated work force so that we can attract jobs to our commonwealth. As it stands there is still a brain drain in this state - from Rural Communities to Urban and from our state to surrounding. If we continue to cut, the brain drain increases and our chances of bringing higher paying jobs to the state decreases and our money decreases.

 

Which is why you don't cut funds from education, even if the budget is in bad shape. The mistake Beshear made was making these cuts for political gain, i.e. it would stir up support for the gambling amendment. Then when it passed he could pump money into education then taut it as an accomplishment. Since that fell through he's scrambling for a way out. He can’t continue to under-fund education. It will ruin his prospects for re-election and current approval ratings. Calling a special session to raise taxes that he knows Republicans will block allows him to at least spread blame for the under-funded education system to Republicans. So far, Beshear has proven to be as poor of a politician as Fletcher was.

 

By the way 26% is a whale of a lot better than 0% even if it is not 33%. How many millions of dollars is 26% worth?

 

Who do you think the lottery and casino gambling will find it's revenue from?

 

Do you think it is the business leaders and millionaires that are pumping the money into the lottery? Or do you simply think it is a disguised tax on the poor and uneducated?

 

I would go out on a limb and say there are not many millionaires in the state of KY that buy their lotto tickets on a weekly basis.

 

The revenue you are asking to generate would and do come on the backs of the people you want to help.

. So far, Beshear has proven to be as poor of a politician as Fletcher was.

 

Thus, the reason I voted for my wife in November.

Which is why you don't cut funds from education, even if the budget is in bad shape. The mistake Beshear made was making these cuts for political gain, i.e. it would stir up support for the gambling amendment. Then when it passed he could pump money into education then taut it as an accomplishment. Since that fell through he's scrambling for a way out. He can’t continue to under-fund education. It will ruin his prospects for re-election and current approval ratings. Calling a special session to raise taxes that he knows Republicans will block allows him to at least spread blame for the under-funded education system to Republicans. So far, Beshear has proven to be as poor of a politician as Fletcher was.

Great analysis, Habib. Politicians never threaten to make cuts to unpopular programs when they are after more money.

They have cut everything. What else is left? EVERY CABINET CUT 6% THIS FISCAL YEAR and based on the recent revenue report they will cut even more.

 

It is not the unfavorable tax code that prevents businesses from coming here. It is the poor education system and the poor infrastructure. We are very competive in our tax incentives through the Cabinet for Economic Development, but even the former Secretary - Gene Strong knew the importance of the education system. In many of his reports to the legislature he talked about how much more money needed to be put into both K-12 and Higher Ed., but the legislature didn't listen.

 

And surely you are not blaming this budget on Beshear? The one that passed looked nothing like the one he proposed and nothing like what the House originally sent to the Senate. This is David Williams' budget pure and simple.